Housebuilders like to carve up apartment blocks into one, two or three-bedroom units with only the most adventurous developers opting for loft or studio apartments.

In many developments, a studio apartment might simply be leftover space - too small to make a one-bedroom unit, but too big not to be used. However, Irish developers are slowly beginning to think in terms of loft-style spaces and a few more adventurous apartment buyers are buying units in shell form, so that they can arrange the space as they wish.

Living in a single space, as opposed to a series of rooms, provides the opportunity to throw off old conventions and create a more fluid, free and easy living environment. But to be successful, it also requires daring, imagination and plenty of planning. Whether the single space is a modern apartment, a compact studio, a converted factory loft, or a period conversion, the issues are the same. How do you make the most of the available space and light, and establish a pleasing aesthetic? One of the big issues is storage. After all, in a single space, you don't have the luxury of closing a bedroom or kitchen door on the detritus of everyday living. Single space living means everything is up for review, says Cynthia Inions in One Space Living. There is no need to separate activities into a traditional room layout, she believes. Instead use "zoning" - creating specific, yet overlapping, activity areas for relaxing, working, sleeping, bathing, and cooking.

She explains how to separate public and private areas, by the use of dividers. The key is to provide some privacy, while maintaining the sense of unity of the space. A fundamental element is flexibility, and dividers should not re-create walls but should be movable - utilise paper blinds, rotating wooden panels or free-standing screens, advises Inions.

Organisation is essential and - bad news for hoarders - clutter is just not on in an open-plan home. Without efficient storage, possessions can "disrupt a vital sense of order", but the imaginative storage options illustrated here will provide inspiration for anyone who would like to simplify their living space. One case study features a bath behind the sofa in the living room, separated by a curtain - which is probably a little too unconventional for most of us. More useful case studies include a New York loft space, a London industrial unit and a purpose-built apartment. The stylish photos make this a browsable book, but it also covers practical matters, such as lighting, heating and ventilation - as well as how to create a multi-functional space which is both easy-to-maintain and relaxing.

One Space Living by Cynthia Inions, 143 pp, Ryland Peters & Small, £18.99 in the UK